Did my freshman f-up their merit aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if their advisor had to sign the drop form. If they did, you might say they should have pointed this out to a freshman.
But if only the course professor had to sign the form, they would not have the bigger picture (in terms of the full course load).

Signed, a professor

I was going to inquire along these lines - not to throw blame, but was wondering if a college student needs to meet with their advisor before dropping a class. Would seem to make sense for these types of reasons- so the advisor can advise on the impacts of the decision rhat a new student might not be thinking about.

Which schools do that kind of hand holding?

You can call it hand holding; we'll just call it the advisor's job.

In college? Sounds like a HS for older kids. Good lord.

[Anonymous]

Agree with prior posts-depends on school. Both my DD and DS go to OOS flagship with 4 year merit aid. Both have 12 credit requirements that are absolutely not negotiable-except DD can take a full gap year and then reestablish while DS school requires consecutive enrollment. Both require 3.2 but DD allows one probation semester while DS strictly immediately loses aid forever at the first drop below 3.3. Please go read the fine print of the merit offer specific requirements and then get on phone with financial office immediately. Good luck. There may be hope. Every school is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if their advisor had to sign the drop form. If they did, you might say they should have pointed this out to a freshman.
But if only the course professor had to sign the form, they would not have the bigger picture (in terms of the full course load).

Signed, a professor

I was going to inquire along these lines - not to throw blame, but was wondering if a college student needs to meet with their advisor before dropping a class. Would seem to make sense for these types of reasons- so the advisor can advise on the impacts of the decision rhat a new student might not be thinking about.

Which schools do that kind of hand holding?

Most

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if their advisor had to sign the drop form. If they did, you might say they should have pointed this out to a freshman.
But if only the course professor had to sign the form, they would not have the bigger picture (in terms of the full course load).

Signed, a professor

I was going to inquire along these lines - not to throw blame, but was wondering if a college student needs to meet with their advisor before dropping a class. Would seem to make sense for these types of reasons- so the advisor can advise on the impacts of the decision rhat a new student might not be thinking about.

Which schools do that kind of hand holding?

Most Flagship state schools do for starters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if their advisor had to sign the drop form. If they did, you might say they should have pointed this out to a freshman.
But if only the course professor had to sign the form, they would not have the bigger picture (in terms of the full course load).

Signed, a professor

I was going to inquire along these lines - not to throw blame, but was wondering if a college student needs to meet with their advisor before dropping a class. Would seem to make sense for these types of reasons- so the advisor can advise on the impacts of the decision rhat a new student might not be thinking about.

Which schools do that kind of hand holding?

Most Flagship state schools do for starters.

Certainly not at UMD

[Anonymous]

Professor here. Not sure the advisor would be involved but our dean’s office, the last approval in a late drop, would have caught it.

That sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professor here. Not sure the advisor would be involved but our dean’s office, the last approval in a late drop, would have caught it.

That sucks.

PP, what does that mean exactly? I am not sure what "caught it" means. Do you mean before course is dropped or after? And if before, what do they do with that information? Prevent the student from dropping it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Professor here. Not sure the advisor would be involved but our dean’s office, the last approval in a late drop, would have caught it.

That sucks.

PP, what does that mean exactly? I am not sure what "caught it" means. Do you mean before course is dropped or after? And if before, what do they do with that information? Prevent the student from dropping it?

Dean of Undergraduate studies/Student affairs and/or their advisors should sign off and catch this - and confirm with student they have dropped below FT threshold. Also to the "UMD doesn't" response
https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/undergraduate/registration-academic-requirements-regulations/academic-advising/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Professor here. Not sure the advisor would be involved but our dean’s office, the last approval in a late drop, would have caught it.

That sucks.

PP, what does that mean exactly? I am not sure what "caught it" means. Do you mean before course is dropped or after? And if before, what do they do with that information? Prevent the student from dropping it?

Dean of Undergraduate studies/Student affairs and/or their advisors should sign off and catch this - and confirm with student they have dropped below FT threshold. Also to the "UMD doesn't" response
https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/undergraduate/registration-academic-requirements-regulations/academic-advising/

The service described in that link is different than the issue OP is having. Yes UMD advising office offers the services described there but if a student drop below 12, and loses merit scholarship, they do not play a role in that process. Students have to check in with them to make sure they are taking the right courses to meet the graduation requirements as well as new course sign up.

[Anonymous]

OP for my kid at UMD the requirement was 24 credits per year. You could go below 12 credits one semester but had to make up the credits somewhere else - in his case, he took a 3 credit course over Winter Term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP for my kid at UMD the requirement was 24 credits per year. You could go below 12 credits one semester but had to make up the credits somewhere else - in his case, he took a 3 credit course over Winter Term.

+1

[Anonymous]

you dont typically lose it this year. its potentially next year when they renew and also reevaluate financial aid packages. they will let you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See if their advisor had to sign the drop form. If they did, you might say they should have pointed this out to a freshman.
But if only the course professor had to sign the form, they would not have the bigger picture (in terms of the full course load).

Signed, a professor

I was going to inquire along these lines - not to throw blame, but was wondering if a college student needs to meet with their advisor before dropping a class. Would seem to make sense for these types of reasons- so the advisor can advise on the impacts of the decision rhat a new student might not be thinking about.

Which schools do that kind of hand holding?

You can call it hand holding; we'll just call it the advisor's job.

In college? Sounds like a HS for older kids. Good lord.

What do you imagine an academic advisor's job is? They advise the students on course selection and the ramifications of that for major, minor, graduation, and financial aid.